From the Desk of Paul Dragon, 9/8/26, Homelessness Response Update

Over the past several months, CVOEO and the Champlain Housing Trust have explored potential locations in Chittenden County for a year-round emergency shelter to help address our region's growing homelessness crisis. Our organization has changed significantly in response to community need. Six years ago, CVOEO operated one shelter for survivors of domestic violence. Today, we operate seven shelters serving people experiencing homelessness. Much of that growth has been achieved in partnership with the Champlain Housing Trust and reflects our mission as a community action agency: responding to the crisis in front of us.

Many of us remember the COVID-19 pandemic, when CVOEO was asked to operate Vermont's largest emergency shelter at the Holiday Inn in South Burlington. During a time marked by illness, loss, uncertainty, and fear, our staff stepped forward with remarkable courage and professionalism. Working alongside South Burlington police, healthcare providers, emergency responders, and state partners, they provided shelter, safety, and support to vulnerable Vermonters during one of the most difficult periods our communities have faced. Their work remains a source of pride for our organization.

Today, we face a different crisis, but one that demands the same commitment. Homelessness continues to increase across the region while shelter capacity remains inadequate. Any future larger shelter would complement CVOEO's existing network of family shelters, domestic violence programs, recovery housing, low-barrier shelters, and seasonal warming shelters. It would also include the supports necessary for success, including housing navigation, healthcare access, transportation, and case management.

We understand that residents, businesses, and communities do not want to see homelessness increase, nor do they want to experience the challenges that accompany it. We share those concerns. Every day, our staff work to connect people with shelter, housing, services, and support because we know that leaving people unsheltered does not solve homelessness. At the same time, one of the challenges we repeatedly encounter is that while many agree more solutions are needed, finding locations where those solutions can be implemented is often difficult.

Recently, there was an opportunity to participate in a public meeting regarding one potential shelter location. After careful consideration, we decided not to attend. Our purpose in any public discussion is to share information, answer questions, listen to concerns, and explore solutions together. In this instance, it became clear that positions on the proposal had largely been established before that broader conversation could occur. Rather than contribute to a discussion that was unlikely to be productive, we chose to focus our efforts on continuing the search for viable opportunities and communities where constructive dialogue can take place.

As a community action agency serving Addison, Chittenden, Franklin, and Grand Isle Counties, along with several statewide programs, we know that homelessness is a regional and statewide challenge requiring regional and statewide solutions. No single community can solve it alone, and every community is affected by it. We remain committed to working with partners, municipalities, service providers, businesses, and community members to identify solutions that are compassionate, practical, and effective. Most importantly, we remain committed to the people and communities we serve and to responding to the crisis in front of us.